Meter box cover



J. W. CALHOUN.

METER BOX COVER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1921.

Patented July 4, 1922.

UNHTEE d'i'ATiES JOHN JV. CALHOUN, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

IV'IETER- BOX COVER.

Original application filed March 20, 1319', Serial No. 283,713.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Jenn VJ. CALHOUN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Meter-Bo Covers, of which the following is a specifics tion.

This invention relates to meter be covers, and particularly to acover adapted and intended for use in conjunction with individual household water meters and in other like connections, the subject matter or this case having been divided from application #283,713. An object of this invention is to provide a cover embodying two members adjustably fitted together whereby the cover is raised to the level of the surrounding earth or sidewalk, and which permits readjustment and elevation of the cover without digging out and resetting the same in case the box settles.

Another object lies in providing inner and outer covers or doors which have a dead air space therebetween.

A further object lies in arranging the inner cover so that for inspection and reading of the meter a small opening is provided, a door being fitted to this opening and the entire inner cover being removable when access is to be had to the meter to detach or set the same.

With these and other objects in view, which will be apparent from the drawing, specification and claims, this invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will now be set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional. view through my improved cover showing the same in place upon a meter box.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the inner cover.

The upper and lower casing members 1 and 2, of cast iron or other suitable material, are of tubular form and have in ternal and external spiral flanges 3 and i adapted to mesh substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

The lower member 2 has a base flange 5 made of suflicient width to spread over the open top of a meter box 6 and rest on the upper end thereof, the upper casing member Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4t, 1922.

Divided and this application filed May 28,

Serial No. 473,516.

1 being in turn supported upon the lower member 2 by engagement of the spiral flanges 3 and a. By turning the member 1 upon a vertical axis this member is raised or lowered, dependent upon the direction in which it is turned, and adjustment is thus made to bring the open top member 1 to the level of the surrounding earth or side walk.

An internal supporting flange 7 is provided at the lower end of the casing member 2 as a support for the cover ring 8. This cover ring closes the major portion of the opening through casing member 2 to protect the meter installed within box 6, and has an opening 9 through which the meter is visible for reading. A door 10 is pivoted or hinged at 11 at one side of opening 9 and is adapted to close down over this opening, handle or knob 12 being provided for opening the door.

The outer casing member 1 has an internal supporting flange 13 adjacent its upper end with a hinge pintle 14 provided within a recess 15 at one side, and a bearing portion 16 on a door 17 is received upon this hinge pintle to mount the door thereon. The door is adapted to swing down within the open top end of casing member 1 to rest upon bearing flange 13, and to retain the door in the closed position a locking member 18, and locking structure, similar to that shown in my copending application Serial Number 283,713 or of any other desired type, can be employed.

By constructing the inner cover as described above, and by providing the inner door, the meter or other instrument protected by my improved cover can be eXamined without the trouble and effort of removing the cover ring, although the entire inner cover may be removed when full so oess is to be had to the meter for removing or changing the same. By the arrangement of inner and outer covers or doors, a dead air space is provided therebetween and the warmth of the earth and instrument is stopped and held in the box or housing, while cold air is prevented from entering. Through the difference in temperature on the inner side of the inner door, due to leakage of air around the outer door, a film of frost or ice will form between ring 8 and flange 7, and the ring and door 10 so that the inner cover'is sealed, however when the door is to be opened or the entire inner cover removed, the thin film of ice or frost can be easily broken.

While, in the foregoing, I have described specific embodiments, and have mentioned only certain possible modifications, it will be appreciated that in practice I do not limit myself to such specific details as herein set forth, but may resort to any practical modifications falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cover ,for meter boxes including upper and lower casing members having openings therethrough, a door for the open ing of the upper casing member, a cover ring fitted within the opening of the lower casing member, and a door to close the opening of said cover ring.

2. A cover for meter boxes and the like inoluding'with upper and lower casing members having openings therethrough and provided with flanges around said openings, a cover ring removably supported on the flange of said lower casing, a door mounted on said cover ring to close the opening thereof, and a door mounted on said upper casin member to close against the flange thereo 3. A cover for meter boxes and'the like including with upper and lower casing men1- bers each having an opening therethrough said lower casing member being provided with a supporting flange around the opening, a ring supported removably on said flange and throughthe opening of which ring access is had to the meter box, a door carried by said ring to close the opening thereof, and an outer door to close the opening of said outer casing member.

4. A cover for meter boxes and the like including with upper and lower casing members having openings therethrough and each provided with a supporting flange around said openings, a cover ring removablysupported on the flangeof said lower casing member to reduce the size of the opening thereof, a door hinged on said cover ring to close the opening thereof and to be opened to give access to the meter box, and an outer door hinged on said upper casing member to shut against the flange thereof and form a second closure with an air space between the inner and outer door.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JOHN W. CALHOUN. 

